So ends the great season-opening hour-long Office experiment. Next week the show goes back to its regular length, which means fewer extended discussions of proper grammar but also probably more focused storytelling.

(Spoilers for whomever -- or is it whoever? -- wants them beginning forthwith.)

Still, Thursday's episode offered up several emotional moments, with Jim and Pam bucking up their usual favorite whipping boy and Jan, for once, looking outside herself to help Michael when he really needed it. Plus, the return of Mose Schrute -- and how can you not like that?

The hour was a little disjointed, with Michael at his second job, Jim and Pam visiting the Schrute Farms B&B (and yeah, you can find it on Trip Advisor; good follow-through, NBC/Office web folks) and Michael contemplating life as a hobo. But somehow, maybe because the character through-lines were strong enough, it managed to hang together pretty well. Let's take the two major story lines one at a time.

Michael and Jan: Jan is remodeling the condo ("A futon is not a sofa." "It folds up. You've only seen it flat") and driving a Porsche, so money is a little tight. So tight, in fact, that Michael has taken a second job telemarketing a quack weight-loss pill. The funny/sad elements (Stanley on his call list? Brilliant) of that story were a welcome changeup from the frequent Bad Michael moments we've had the past few weeks, and I loved that Michael the employee was as easygoing -- how they all hung on his discussion of the Die Hard series -- and well-liked as Michael the boss is overbearing and just barely tolerated.

His resentment of Ryan seems to have faded a little bit, though he still passive-aggressively resists any kind of change the scruffy-bearded kid tries to bring to the company. Michael's admission that he probably wouldn't have learned PowerPoint even if he didn't have a second job was one of the more honest moments he's had.

And, as nutty as Jan can be ("My family, on the advice of counsel, still isn't talking to me"), the scene in which she talked Michael off the train really was pretty sweet (but not too; all through the hour, writer Paul Lieberstein -- Toby -- kept the show on the right side of that line). For all of Michael's voluminous faults, the guy does not turn his back on people he considers friends, and it's good that Jan recognized how important that is to their relationship.

Jim, Pam and Dwight: I'm with Jim here -- I wouldn't have imagined his first night away with Pam would involve Schrute Farms either. Yet what started out as a goof on their part -- a stay at the Beets Motel, the Embassy Beets, the Radish Inn, all Pam's -- and included the return of Mose, some beet wine and a bedtime reading of Harry Potter also gave them a chance to try to give Dwight, still reeling from his breakup with Angela, a little nudge back in the right direction.

PBJ love their pranks, but they also know better not to kick someone when he's down. Where, after all, is the fun in that? Their positive review of the B&B, with its three themed rooms (America, irrigation, nighttime) didn't help much. But Jim's stairwell pep talk, which is about the most honest we've ever seen him be about his time in Stamford, and it actually caused Dwight to express a little affection for his desk mate. Jim had already left, but still.

And you 'shippers have got to be happy about the kiss Jim laid on Pam immediately after that. Yes, it was awfully shmoopy, but it felt earned, too, and the way they discussed their love of "Italian food" in the talking heads right was totally charming.

Other bits of funny business from "Money":

• Kapoor Crazy lives: During the whoever-whomever discussion, Kelly blurts out "Ryan used me as an object," then makes a big show of kissing Darryl in front of her ex (though it doesn't quite get the reaction she wants). Darryl's onto her, though ("You need to access your uncrazy side"), and lets her know it -- which completely baffles Kelly. "Darryl Philbin is the most complicated man I've ever met. I mean, who says exactly what they're thinking. [Shakes head.] What kind of game is that?"
• Dwight and Angela's exchange of stuff: "One cardigan. One sleep cardigan. And one sleep apnea mat." But yeah, he kept the cherub figurine.
• Trouble in the Scranton music scene! Kevin has apparently left Scrantonicity and formed his own group, Scrantonicity 2. His petulant reaction to no one showing up for his gig was great.
• Michael's Devil Wears Prada moment at the top of the show. "Meryl Streep's the bad guy. You never see it coming."
• Mose running alongside the car, Mose mashing beets, Mose getting in a manure fight with Dwight, Mose at the foot of the bed while Dwight reads Harry Potter. Mose, Mose, Mose.
• Andy finally breaks Angela's icy reserve. Sort of. She accepts the stray cat he boxed up for her and informs him that he may ask her to dinner -- "nothing fancy or foreign, no bars, no patios, no vegetables. And no seafood."
• Creed's explanation of bankruptcy as "nature's do-over," his assertion that Monopoly is bunk because "No one just picks up Get Out of Jail Free cards. Those cost thousands" and his explanation that Creed Bratton has never declared bankruptcy, but William Charles Schneider has.

There's more to talk about, I'm sure, but it's late and I've gone on enough. So...

Are you happy to see The Office return to its regular length next week? Wish the hour-long episodes could go on forever? Happy as I was to see Mose again?

Comments

The Office should be an hour long show. It was great to see Jan great more screen time, and I continue to appreciate how PBJ are a perfect on screen couple.

AC | Oct 18, 2007 10:19:50 PM | #

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wasn't the cat from Dwight originally? when he was trying to make up with Angela?

Michelle | Oct 18, 2007 11:01:19 PM | #

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A lot of the first half was really boring, mainly all the parts with Jim and Pam on vacation. Once they all got into the office for the Powerpoint presentation it was all laughs from there!

eahilbert | Oct 18, 2007 11:54:02 PM | #

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Definitely going to miss that extra half hour. They need the extra time for the pauses - and random grammatical discussions! And Mose was so funny, I hope we see more of the Beets Motel.

Pam | Oct 19, 2007 12:45:29 AM | #

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This episode convinced me of the hour long episode, as it was essentially 2 in one, anyway.

I found most of it laugh out loud funny.

armin101 | Oct 19, 2007 5:46:25 AM | #

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The Office is the funniest show on TV, and I will miss the hour-long episodes, even though all of them have been essentially two 1/2 hours put together.

JT | Oct 19, 2007 6:18:27 AM | #

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argh! I totally missed what Jim and Dwight talked about in the stairwell. The Red Sox game was checked on at that commercial break and didn't click back in time! Anyone have more of a break down of it thatn what is above? I knew I missed something good as soon as I saw Jim and Dwight sitting there...but then Jim got up and left. Thx

no-idol | Oct 19, 2007 6:20:19 AM | #

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Word of advice: Ne'er trust people with two first names. Olympian Mark Henry. Writer Peter David. Character Michael Scott. Ne'er.

"Wow, you should be in movies!" -Telemarketer wowed at Scott's knowledge of Die Hard.

Michael was amazing on his half of the show, being the prankster at work ("Sigh. These meetings are pointless."), having snappy patter with everyone. Even though he's still Michael Scott (see the aftermath of Peanutbutter vs Vanilla Crisp). It was doubly amusing to see the camera crew follow him into the business and freak the manager there out.

Raine Wilson as Dwight Schrute was amazing this episode. From the moaning at night to the pained expressions by Andy or in the stairwell to hiding the fact that he stole Angela's cheribum, you could really believe Dwight was almost human under that robotic veneer.

Ah, Jim and his passion for Italian food. Makes him look all the more realistic. And makes us all fall in love with Italian food.

Really, just about everyone at the office had something great to contribute (except Meredith, *whom's* still gots the casts, and the temp guy who moved back down to IT?) even the guest-stars in the other office.

Most awkward moment: when Darryl admits that he starts to feel aroused whenever he sees Ryan pop in.

RUN MICHAEL... RUUUUUN!!
Best. Office Moment. Ever.

pakopako | Oct 19, 2007 6:33:28 AM | #

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Jim laid out why he left Scranton the first time. This isn't the full thing, but: "It was all about Pam. She was with Roy ... I couldn't concentrate on anything. And weird stuff -- like food had no taste. ... I wouldn't wish that on my worst enemy. [Pause] And that includes you."

Rick | Oct 19, 2007 6:35:36 AM | #

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Oh, and this episode did *NOT* feel like the previous hour-longs of two episodes smushed into one. It was just THAT amazing.

No-idol:

S P O I L E R S
(but we knew that)

Everyone comes back from the office all tired. Pam is at her desk yawning, Jim mindlessly walks back in, Michael came back in after getting off work at 1am, Ryan pops in high with a can of Red Bull in his hand.

After a Ryan/Michael moment, we see Jim and Dwight working. Jim is actually almost awake, but Dwight is slumping and grunting. Pam signals Jim to perk Dwight up, so they tell him of their positive review. Dwight is still in a slump. He exits to the stairwell and Pam motions to Jim to help the poor man.

Jim goes and sees Dwight curled up in a ball in the stairwell, moaning as he did back on the farm. Jim tries to ask him how he was doing, and Dwight can only moan incoherently. Jim tried to convince Dwight not to run away from the problem. Dwight still moans incoherently.

Jim then asks if Dwight knew why he left DM in the first place. It was because of Pam. Pam was involved with Roy and Jim couldn't stand that. So he left. He left and he felt like crap. It was the worst feeling ever and he had to come back. Jim knows what the pain of being away from someone you love felt like, and its something he wouldn't wish on his worst enemies. And that included him, Dwight. Dwight at that point, still curned up into a ball, though no longer totally grimacing or facing the corner, reached his arm around to try and hold Jim, but Jim had left.

Jim, depressed at what he just said, goes back into the office then passionately... talks about Italian food. Dwight returns, plucks an order folder from his desk, and resumes Dwight-office mode. Pam and Jim feel like they've restore the balance of the Office.

pakopako | Oct 19, 2007 6:41:50 AM | #

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Wow am I slow.
And both Rick and this person:
remote.lohudblogs.com/2007/10/19/the-office-come-for-the-tablemaking-stay-for-the-beets/
...did it much better.

pakopako | Oct 19, 2007 6:44:01 AM | #

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FYI, I'm pretty sure the line was "Sleep apnea mask" not "mat".

I should know, my wife is a Sleep Technician.

Dave C | Oct 19, 2007 7:41:34 AM | #

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I also was wondering if the cat Angela accepted from Andy was, in fact, Garbage.

It was a great episode, not too long at all. I liked Michael's musings on "what he would have been back home" and Pam's explanation why she wouldn't set up Andy with Angela: "I couldn't do that to Dwight. Or Angela." Pause. "Or Andy."

And wasn't it just Michael's luck to hop the train that was going nowhere. But it was nice to see Jan show up in such a hurry. I guess she really does care about him!

Lord Rupert Everton | Oct 19, 2007 10:57:56 AM | #

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I'm sad to see The Office return to a half hour length, but glad that Scrubs is coming back, so it'll still be a good hour of television.

I've always thought that Micheal would be a better employee than boss. Hes a goofy, immature salesman, not a guy who runs an office. As we saw in the office olympics episode, Jim would be a better boss. Wonder how the writer's could pull off that switch?
-e

derangedmilk | Oct 19, 2007 11:52:15 AM | #

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Love this show. Dwight's moaning really creeped me out and at the same time I felt sympathy for him. I guess that's what Dwight usually does for me. I love the sweetness in the relationship between Jim and Pam. I can't think of another relation on TV that's quite like it. CAn't Jan see she's driving Michael into debt? Good show. I liked the hour format.

Dianne | Oct 19, 2007 11:53:14 AM | #

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Sly moment of the episode: Jim and Pam, seizing on the information that Michael will be otherwised occupied that evening, decide it is the perfect time to redeem their unwanted invitation to dinner with Michael and Jan.

Dwight's moans had a decidedly Wookie sound to them.

And I like that this show finds the occasional oasis of poignancy that does not necessariy have to play for laughs. In addition to the Jim-Pam-Dwight moments and Michael-Jan moment already mentioned, I was fascinated by Oscar's patience and sincerity in trying to help Michael deal with his personal financial crisis. Oscar, who has borne the brunt of Michael's most clueless social gaffes, was the unsung hero of last night's ep.

Goph | Oct 19, 2007 2:50:35 PM | #

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The cat was DEFINITELY Garbage - Andy talked about how he found it "wandering outside of Vance Refrigeration" a while ago, which is exactly where Dwight dropped it off. I thought that was one of the funniest parts of the episode.

Jimmy | Oct 19, 2007 6:49:36 PM | #

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derangedmilk: Guess you missed the part where Oscar showed Michael how much money HE was spending on completely unnecessary things. That was the twist in the episode. It wasn't Jan's reckless spending that forced him out of his office to scream "I declare BANKRUPTCY!"...it was him buying things like The Best of the Muppet Show on DVD ("classic") and $1200 on the Core Blaster Extreme ("The Marine Corps actually uses it...that's how they got Core") that have him deep in the debt spiral.

James | Oct 19, 2007 10:03:01 PM | #

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To James:

With all due respect to Michael's reckless spending, Jan's Porsche cost about a gazillion times more!

But thank you for pointing out what I thought was the funniest line of the night. Michael: "I declare BANKRUPTCY!" Followed by Oscar trying to explain that is not exactly how it is done.

Bob G. | Oct 22, 2007 12:10:26 PM | #

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I just realized that his comment about writing an action adventure movie is a callback to "Threat Level: Midnight" and Agent Michael Scarn!

Sara R | Oct 23, 2007 9:24:48 AM | #

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To James:

With all due respect to Michael's reckless spending, Jan's Porsche cost about a gazillion times more!

But thank you for pointing out what I thought was the funniest line of the night. Michael: "I declare BANKRUPTCY!" Followed by Oscar trying to explain that is not exactly how it is done.
Bob G. | Oct 22, 2007 12:10:26 PM | #

To Bob:
I'm pretty sure it's not Jan driving him into debt. It has been stated many times that she has money. And Michael refuses to talk to her about money which implies that she pays for a lot of things herself. And they got the car by trading in both of their cars.

Rachel | Oct 26, 2007 2:48:37 PM | #

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